Be On Guard

Greetings on this the Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Heb 4:1-5, 11; PS 78:3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8; Mk 2:1-12

Letter to the Hebrews

This week the Church has been reading from this letter. This anonymous sermon touches upon Psalm 2, 8, 20, 22, 23, 45, 102, 104, and 110 in the first three chapters alone! Blending them with the Old Testament the writer illustrates the unity of the theme of sacred Scripture, how they are interconnected and reinforcing.

In chapter four, the writer of this letter provides an extended commentary on Psalm 95. Psalm 95 has two basic messages deserving of deeper reflection: (1) God’s kingship (2) Man’s response.

God’s kingship and Man’s response has been our theme all this week.

Would you take a few moments to read Psalm 95? https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/95
I hope you do, the Church reads this Psalm every day.

As a reminder:

1. Eternal God is above all gods.
2. He made the depths of the earth and the height of the mountains.
3. He is the rock of our salvation.

Let us be on our guard

Let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remains, that none of you seem to have failed.

Still some have failed in obvious ways. For they were not united in faith with those who listened. God responds, As I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter into my rest.”

As the letter says, “Therefore, let us strive to enter into that rest, so that no one may fall after the same example of disobedience.

Responsorial Psalm

In the daily responsorial the selection is PS 78 themed: Do not forget the works of the Lord!
This psalm is a review of the history of Israel specifically the wilderness period.

Recurring theme:

1. God has delivered
2. Man rebels.
3. Man falls into trouble.
4. God saves.

Rebellion and Divine Response is a recurring theme in biblical history. It is a recurring theme in our lives. Ye we are reminded – Remember the work of the Lord!

The Paralytic

In the gospel reading today four men went to great lengths to bring a paralytic to Jesus even so much as to go upon the roof and lower him down through an opening in the roof.

God delivers: When Jesus saw their faith, he said to him, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”

Man rebels: Who but God alone can forgive sins?”

Man falls: Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

God saves: Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth” –he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” He rose, picked up his mat at once.

Remember the work of the Lord!

There were five men who entered into ‘my rest’ that day.

The four who carried in faith the burden of the paralytic and the paralytic.

Remember means to Do

Remember the work of the Lord!
Do the work of the Lord!
Enter into His rest.
And glorify God.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry